A traveler's guide to Park City
The town and the ski area are the same trip. The Canyons side is far. Look at the map before you promise to meet for lunch.
Park City is the ski resort attached to the old mining town, and the ski area now runs from the town lifts across to the Canyons side. It is one of the largest ski resorts in the United States. Deer Valley is the next door over and a different ticket. You can walk from Main Street to a lift, which is the trick of the place.
When to go
January through March. Utah's cold smoke snow is the reputation and it shows up often enough to plan around, between storms that also close canyons on the way from Salt Lake City. The town was an Olympic host in 2002 and it absorbs a busy weekend better than a tiny village does. March is the easy week.
On the hill
The town side and the Canyons side are one resort and a long traverse. Skiing from one to the other is a half day, not a connector trail you do twice. Quicksilver and the town gondola are the doors most visitors use. Terrain runs from long cruisers to legitimate expert bowls. Stay on the open runs. The resort is vast enough to get lost without doing anything brave. Deer Valley is visible and not included.
Village and passes
Old Park City is walkable: Main Street, the town lift, dinner. New hotels spread toward Kimball Junction and the Canyons base, which are a bus or a car. Salt Lake City is the airport, about forty minutes in clear weather and a different number when the canyon is snowing. A car is useful and a nuisance in the old town. Buy the Park City ticket. Add Deer Valley only as its own decision.
If you only remember this
- Town side to the Canyons side is a project. Do it once, on purpose.
- Deer Valley is next door and not this lift pass.
- The canyon from Salt Lake City is the arrival. Give it time in a storm.
- Stay near Main Street if you want to walk to a lift and to dinner.